How do you solve #6+n/4=11#?

1 Answer
Apr 11, 2018

n = 20

Explanation:

When solving for a variable we can undo operations with the opposite operation:

Adding is the opposite of Subtracting
Multiplication is the opposite of dividing

There is an order of operations, but thankfully we have a helpful acronym to help us remember it:

P lease
E xcuse
M y
D ear
A unt
S ally

or

Parenthesis
Exponent
Multiplication
Division
Addition
Subtraction

However when solving for a variable, like n, we do the order of operations in reverse:

Subtraction
Addition
Division
Muilitplacation
Exponet
Parenthesis

Because in our order of operation for solving, addition comes first, so to get rid of the addition we must do subtraction of 6 on both sides of the equal sign:

#6 - 6 + n/4 = 11-6#

6-6 is equal to zero and 11 - 6 is 5, so now we have:

#n/4 = 5#

now to get rid of the division of #n/4# we do multiplication of 4 on both sides of the equal sign:

#n/4*4 = 5*4#

#n/4*4# becomes #n# and #5*4# is #20# so:

#n = 20#